Track raising and shifting apparatus



June 32, 1923.

J. FORSBERG TRACK RAISING AND SHIFTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2, 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 1 yrf w e/ mm June 112, 1923. 11,458,4Q2

J. FORSBERG TRACK RAISING AND SHIFTING APPARATUS Fild Sept. 2. 1922 sSheets-Sheet 2 June-12, 1923 I mssmz J. FORSBERG TRACK RAISING ANDSHIFTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June12, 1923.

JOHN-,FORSBERG, OF CHICAGO, IIILLINOISM T BACK- RAISING AND- SHIFTING,AIBPARA TDiS,

Application filed September 2, 1922, S er ia1 N0. 58G,OO$;

To all whom. itmay concern;

Be it known-that I, J onN Fonsnnno, acitizen of the United States, residng at Chicago,

inth'e county of Cook-andState of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Raising andShifting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

'My invention relates to apparatus for raising andshifting track. I

The invention contemplates the provision of 'a supporting structure,preferably mounted upon wheels adapted to run upon the track, and whichis anchoredto the track; and one of the objects of 'myiiwention is theprovision of a lifting member, the-lower end of which is adaptedtoanchor itself'inthe traclrbcd, so associated with the supportingstructure in; combination withsuitable mechanism whereby movement ofthelifting memberrelativeito the supporting structui e mayvbeeifectedgenerally in a, direction lengthwise of the lifting member anda sec tionof the track raised: either-partly or entirely out of: itsbed. so'that the material forming the track bed may bep-laced under andaround the ties and-tamped in theusual manner; a

A; further object of'my invention is the provisionof apparatus wherebysection of track may bepicked up and, shifted bodily. to one .sideor theother, or lengthwise, if desired; and, to this end the invention contenrplates the provision of a lifting member pivotally andzslidablyconnected to the sup porting structure in such manner'that-thc liftingmember may be placed obliquely or at an angle relative to the road bed,whereby upon movement of the lifting member rela tive to the supportingstructure being ef fectcd in a direction lengthwise ofthe member, thesupporting structure and the sec-- tion of track towhich it is anchoredwill be bodilv raised and-shiftedtoone side or the other or in, alengthwise direction, depend ing upon the direction in which the li tingmember is inclined;

The means, for pivotally and slidably coni'iectin-g the lifting memberwith the supporting structure preferably includes a frame pivotellyconnected to the supporting: structure and with which. the liftingmember is slid-ably associated and. a further object of my inventionisthe provision of; novel means foiyeffecting movement of the lifting:member relative to the; nd. s ppor ns structure, said means preferablyincluding rack bar formed on orfixed to the liftingv member with which'agear 'journaled injth'e frame is adapted to mesh, any suitable means,for example, a crank, being provided to drive said geaia- A furtherobject of my invention is the provision of meansforholding the-pivotedframe in a vertical positioinw-hich-umay be accomplished by providingone or more readily detachable brace rods extending.

diagonally from the frame to the support ing structure: this featureofthe invention being particularly useful when itis desired to raiserelatively lowsect-ions ofatrack. so that filling material may be,wrorkednnder the ties andtamped."

Another object of'my invention is the..provision of'means for holdingthe-liftingim'ember against retrograde movement relativeto thesupporting structure after; a; section of track has been raised orshifted while workmen fill in material around the ties and'tamp it, thispreferably being accomplished by providing a pawl, on the frame which isadapted'to engage the teeth ofthe rackbar. A further object of myinvention is to provide an arrangement whereby-the weight of'the trackand thesupporting structure anchored to it will be utilized to aid; inshift ing-the track in the direction desired; and, tothis end thepivotal'connection between the frame supporting the lifting, member andthe main supporting structure is offgrset to oneside or theother-ofthemember, depending upon thedirection in whichit isdesiredgto shift thetrack; thus the longitudinal thrust 01' strain to whichthe liftingmember is subjected is eccentrically disposed relative to the pivotalconnection tothat side ofthe pivotalv connection to which the track istobe shifted and materiallyaidsinsuring: ing or shifting the track .in;the desired direction. I a l I V A further object of my invention is theprovision of onei lor more, staymeans ex tending generally in, thed-irectionof the lifting member, from the supportingstructure to thetrackso that distortion-bf the supporting structure underthe. load ofthe track will beefiectively prevented each f said means preferablyincluding a pair of stay rods connected together by: a turnbuckle theouter end of one rod beingreade ily detachably connectedto one side-,o-f the supporting structure and; the' pnosite endt i the other rodbeing formed with a hook adapted to engage the he d. of the rail on theopposite side of the track.

I A further object of my invention is the provisionof novel mean's'toanchor the supporting structure to the track, said means preferablycomprising several pairs ,of clamping inembers formed at'their lowerends with complementary hooks adapted to embrace'the headof the rail andbeing ad--' justably conn'ectedat theirupper ends by a,

threaded stud ,to the supporting structure,

ajslip ring surrounding each'pair of clamp- "provision. of'al-relativelylong supporting ingme nbers to hold them in binding en- 'gagement withthe head o the rail.

,A further object of my invention is the structure, preferably mounted.upon wheels adapted to run upon the track, on which several (lifting.members are arranged in" spaced relation so thatla'relatively longsection oftrack'ma-y be handled at onetime.

The invention oonsistsin .the novel constructions, arrangements anddevices tobe hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out theabove stated objects and such other objects asjwillappe'ar from thefollowing 1 description of certain ypr efe'rredwemdrawings,whereinbodim'ents illustrated the accompanying Fig. 1-isa plan view ofan "apparatus anchored to a'section-of track and embody.-

ing the'principles of my invention;

Fig.2'is' a side elevational view of the apparatusrFig. '3 is 1 a detailview of one of the means for anchoring the supporting structure to thetrack;

Fig, at is anfendfelevational view of the apparatus;

Fig; 5 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, 'ofthesupporting frame for ofFi'g. 6,;

Fig. 6 is'a tra on the line 66 of Fig; 5;

the lifting member, taken on theline 5+5 Fig. 7 "s a plan View of amodified form of apparatus anchored to a section of track and alsoembodyingtheprinciplesof my lustrated in Fig. 7;

I ing structure with which a line 99 of Fig. 7; and;

invention; v I 'F'ig. 8v is anend elevational. view of a fragmentaryportion of the apparatus i1.- .Fig. 9 ,is a sectional view taken onthe j.Fig. 10 is a. side elevational view, on a reducedscale, of a relativelylong supportmembers are associated.

. Like charactersfof reference designate like parts 1n theseveralvlews.

Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive,

' Referring first to of the drawings, the supporting structure includesa pairof longltudinally extending foundation members1' O connectedtransversely extending members 11' to form a sverse sectional view takenplurality of lift rectangular frame which is preferably mounteduponaxles-12 on which are journaled wheels 13 adapted to run upon the.rails 1415f, the track to be lifted or shifted.

A; plurality Of'members 15 extends transin detail in Fig. 3. -The lowerendsof the. I.

- clampingmembers'are bent around toform hooks 17 adapted to engage theunder sides of the head of the rail and the upper ends are ap'ertured sothat the eye 18? of a threaded stud 18 maybe passed therethrough.Certain of the members :15 are provided adjacent "each end with suitableapertures through which the respective studs-18 may I extend, a :nut,preferably in the form of a hand wheel 1-9, being threaded on the upperends of each of the studs. A slip ring 20 surroundseach pair of clampingmembers 17, I and, asthis ring is relatively heavy, it will be obviousthat, oncezthe clamping, members are brought into operative engagementwith the"head-of the rail, the ring will readily slip down andeffectively hold the clamping members'in engagement with the rail head.In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a pair of lifting members 21each, of

whichextends through a frame, designated generally by the referencecharacter 22.

When two of the lifting members are employed,they maybe of relativelylight constructionand, therefore, are easier to han,

dle. The two members areordinarily operated nunison. It will beobviousthat one relatively heavv'member might readily be substituted for thetwo members.

\ Each of the frames 22 comprises a pair of spaced {plates 23 securedtogether by rivet-s 24: surrounded, respectively, by spacing bushings25. On one side'of the lifting member" 21 a rack bar 26- is provided,the width of which is somewhat'les's than that of the bar 21, I

see Fig.-6.- On the same side of the lifting member flanged rollers. 27are journaledbetweenthe plates 23, the peripheries of the flanges ofsaid rollers being adapted to bear lf3 nstthe smooth portions oftheadjacent side of the lifting member 21. On the 0pposite side of theliftingine-mber'rollers 28 also journaled between the plates 23' areprovided to bear against the adjacent side of the lifting member,"Ashort shaft 29 .is journaled in the plates .23 a-ndilias keyed theretoa gear 30 the" teeth cf whichja're adapted tomesh with the teeth of therack bar'26. The shaft'29may' be turned in any desired'manner, forexample,-by,a crank or lever 3L; Each of the frames'22isprovided withbearings 32. and 33 through either of which a pivot shaft 34may extend,the shaft 34 being supported in any of thebearings 35, 35 or 35 providedin the adj acent transthe supporting structure. 7,

In Fig 5 the shaft'34t is shown as extendiing through the bearings32-oftheframe' and in Fig. f said shaft is also shown asextendingthrough the bearings of the frame members 15. It will 'be not'edthaifthebearings 32 are off setto the left'of thelifting member, asV1W8(il1n*F1g S. 4 and" o,

consequently, the fra1ne'22 and the-lifting member tend'to tilt in aclockwise directron whichis desirable when it is intended'to shift thetrack to the right, having reference to'Fig. 4. When it is desired toshift the track in that direction, the frame 22' is inclinedsubstantially as shown in the dotted linepositionin Fig: 4:. Uponturning the shaft 29 in a clockwise: direction, movement of the liftingmemberrelative to the supporting structure will be effeotecfin adirection longitudinal of said member.

A-fterall lost motion has been taken up and the lower end of" thelifting member has anchored itself in the track. bed, thesupportingstructureand the track anchored to it will be forced orshiftedtotheright. It will be understood that the lowerend of the lifting memberis placed between the ties of the track and thisend' of said member maybe provided with a plurality of laterally projecting feet 21 to preventthe lifting memberfrom working itself 'too far into the track bed.Shiftingofthe'track to the right may be continued until the track hasbeen shifted to such an extent that the inner side shaft 3a is insertedthrough the bearings 33' of thef'rame 22, consequently, the frame andlifting member tend to tilt in an anti clockwise direction. The extentto which the track is to be shifted to the left will determine whetherit is best to insert the shaft 34 in the bearings 35 or 35. With thisarrangement, therefore, it will be apparent that advantage is takenofthe eccentrically disposed longitudinal thrust or; strain; to

siderable strain" and isdiltel'y' tobe" distorted unless bracing-meansare provided which extend generally in the same direction as-the liftingmember jfrom one side ofthe supporting structure to the opposite side ofthe track. Asthe supportingstructure must be shifted more or lessfrequently along the track, itis' desirable'that the bracing means beconveniently attached to or detached'from the-supporting structure andtrack. In the drawings, I have shown a stud 36 rigidly connected to andextending from each end of each of the longitudinal frame members 16.The bracing means may comprise a pair of rods 37 and 38eonnectedtogether by a turnbuckle 39, theupper end of the rod 38 being formedwith an eye 38" adapted to slip over-the end of one ofthestuds 36 and.the lower end of the rod 37' being formed with a hook portion 37ada'ptedto slip into holding engagement with the head of the rail onthe-opposite side of the track. When the" track: is to be. shifted tothe right, the bracing means are-positioned as shown in full lines inFigs. 1 and 4, and, when it is to' be shiftedto the left, the" bracingmeans are reversed, being positioned in thatcase, as shownin dottedlines in Fig; 4.

The apparatusis very useful in raising relatively; lowsections of trackand, when it is used for that purpose, the shaft 34 is preferablyinserted through the bearings 35 sons to center-theload on the liftingmem her. In that case, it is desirable to prevent anyoscillating'movement of the frame 22 on the-shaft 34, and Ltherefore,provide one or more brace bars 40 extending diagonally from thesupporting'structure to the frame 22, substantially as 'shown in Figs. 1and 4. Thelower ends of'these-bars may be formed with hooksadapted toproject through eye members 41 attached to the longitudinally extendingframe members 10 and the upper ends of'said bars formed with hooksadapted toslip over abolt' or rivet 42' attached to the plates 23 of theframef22. WVhen the apparatus is" used for lifting the track, it is alsodesirable to provide means for preventing retrograde movement ofthelifting member relative to the frame and to this end a, pawl 43, seeFigti, may be pivoted between the plates 23 which isnormally urged intoengagement withthe teeth of the rack bar 26 by a spring 44: The; pawlmay be disengaged from the rack bar "teeth by. pulling on the-'wireorrod45;

In", Figs; 7 to*9", inclusive, 1 have illustrated inventionasem-bodied'- in apparatus adapted to shifta section of track eithersidewise or longitudinally. In these views the supporting structureincludes longitud-inall'yv extending foundation members 10 connected totransversely extending members 11 to" form-a rectangular frame. Theextremities ofthe members. 11 are pref erably connected todongitudinallyextending nee M the flanges 11 of the channel members. 11"- framemembers 16*. The members 11 are provided with transversely extendmgslots 4.6 which may be reinforcedjby a casting 4:7.

Bearingblocks 48 1are slidablymounted in 1 the respective slots lfi,said blocks being pro.-

vided with laterally projecting flanges 49,

andthe flanges A9, respectively, having regstering perforations sothatvertically disposed pins 50 may be dropped therethrough to secure thebearing blocks at any one of several positions in the slots. Frame 22supporting the liftingmember 2liscarr1ed by an auxiliary longitudinallyextending frame consisting of a pair of channelmemhers 51 boltedat-their extremities to spacing blocks 52. Stub shafts 52 extendfromjtheblocks 52 and are journaled in bearing: blocks 48, respectively.Themembers 51. are provided with slots 53' reinforced by a. casting 53",I bearing blocks 54 being slidably disposed in the respective slots 52.The bearing blocks 54 are provided with horizontal flanges 55, theflanges 51 of the members 51 and the a flanges 55, respectively, beingprovided with registeringapertures adapted to receive pins 56'so thatthe bearing blocks 54: may be secured in any one of severalpositionswith I respect to the auxiliary frame. The shaft 34: onwhichthe frame 22 rocks is journaled in the bearing blocks 54; It willbeseen that the connection between the frame 22 and the auxiliary frame issubstantially the same as that between the auxiliary frame and themembers 11, in the particular embodiment shown. the auxiliary framebeing adapted to rock 011 a longtudinally extending subproximatelysixtyor eighty feet of tracle stantially horizontal axis while the frame 22is free'to rock ona transversely extending substantially horizontalaxis. In using this form of apparatus for shifting a section oftracklengthwise, itniay be necessary to remove one or two ties from undertherails so asxto permit the lifting member .to be positioned at thedesired inclination-,but

the removal ofv the ties simple matter.;f I

I In Fig. 10 of the drawing I have illustrated the principles of myinvention as embodied in apparatus adapted to lift or shift a relativelylong sectionof track, I plurality .of pairs of lifting members. aremountedin spaced'relation on a suitable supporting structurewhich, in Ithis case, may be a relatively long fiat car, or thellike. T he is acomparatively several pairs of lifting members may be placedfifteen ortwenty feet apart, and aplifted or shifted ,vvithout moving the carfromone place to anothen. I i

I donotintend to limitmy invention to the details of constructiondescribed and claimed exceptonly inso far as certain oftheappendedclaims are. specifically so limited, as it Wil1 be obviousto;those skilled in the art, that modifications may be made withoutdepartingfrom the spirit of the invention. I i I claim: A

'1. Apparatus ofthe class describedcom prislnga support ng structure,means to a frame pivotally connected to said struc- 1 ture, aliftingzmember slidably associated with said frame, means foreffectingmovement of said memberrelative to said frame, and readilydetachable bracing means adapted to secure said framewhen in asubstantially vertical position to said structure.

prising supporting means. adapted to be anchored to a section of track,liftingmeans slidablycarriedby said supporting means, a rack bar fixedto one of said means, a. gear journaled in the other of said means andin mesh with said rack bar,and a pawl carried by said last-mentionedmeans and adapted to engage said rack bar, for the purpose specified.

3. Apparatus of the class describedwcom- 4:. Apparatus of the-classdescribedicomprising a supporting structure, means to anchor saidstructure to a section of track, a

lifting member slidably carried by said structure and provided with arack bar, a gear journaledzin said supporting [structure and 'in meshwith saidrack bar, and a pawl carried by said supporting structure andadapted to engage said rack bar,ffor the purpose specified.

5. Apparatus of the class described cornprising a supporting structure,means to anchorysa-id structure to asection of track a frame pivotallyconnected to said structure, means to secure said frame when in, a

substantially vertical position to said struc{ ture, a lifting memberslidably associated with saidframe, means for effecting movement of'saidmember relative to said frame in .a direction lengthwise of said member,and means for holdingsaid member against retrograde movement relative tosaid frame. I

6. Apparatus of the class describedcomprisinga supporting structuremeans to anchor saidstructureto asection of track,

frame pivotally connected to" said strucs ture, meanstoisecure saidframewhenin a substantially vertical position to, said struc e a f i memer slidably I associated with said frameand provided with a-rack bar, agear journaled in said frame and in mesh with said rack bar, and apawlcarried by said frame and adapted to engage said i'ackbar, for thepurpose specified.

7, Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure,means to anchor said structure to asection of track, a lifting member,means pivotally and slidably connectingsaid member with said structure,and means for effecting movement of said member relative to saidstructure ina direction vlengthwise of said member, the pivotalconnection between said member and said structure being such that it maybe off-set to one side or the other of the member, for the purposespecified.

8. Apparatus of theclass described comprising a supporting structure,means to anchor said structure to a section of track, a frame pivotallyconnected to said structure, a lifting member slidably associated withsaid frame, and means for effecting movement of said member relative .tosaid frame, the pivotal connection between said frame and said structurebeing such that it may be oif-set to one side or the other of thelifting member, for the purpose specified.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure,means to a11- chor said structure to a section of track, a

lifting member, means pivotally and slidably connecting said member withsaid structure whereby said member may be positioned at an anglerelative to the track bed, means for effecting movement of said memberrelative to said structure in a direction lengthwise of said member, andstay means extending generally in the direction of said lifting-memberfrom saidstructure to the track.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure,means to anchor said structure to a section of track, a lifting member,means pivotally and slidably connecting said member with said structurewhereby said member may be positioned at an angle relative to the trackbed, means for effecting movement of said member relative to saidstructure in a direc tion lengthwise of said member, and adjustable stayrods extending generally in the direction of said lifting member fromsaid structure to the track.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure,means to anchor said structure to a section of track, a lifting member,means pivotally and slidably connecting said member with said structurewhereby said member may be positioned at an angle relative to the trackbed, means for effecting movement of said member relative to saidstructure in a direction lengthwise of said member, and adjustable stayrods'eXtend-inggenerally in the direcber relative to said structure in adirection lengthwise of said member, and stay means extending generallyin the direction of said lifting member and comprising a pair of rodsfastened together by a turn-buckle, said last mentioned means at one endbeing adapted to be connected to one side of said structure and at theother end being adapted to hook over the head of the rail on theopposite side of the track.

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure,a lifting member associated with said structure, means for efi'ectingmovement of said member relative to said structure in a directionlengthwise of said member, and means to anchor said structure at severalplaces to a section of track, each of said last-mentioned meanscomprising a pair of clamping members the lower ends of which are formedso as to grip the head of a, rail, meansconnecting the upper ends ofsaid clamping members with said structure, and a slip ring surroundingsaid clamping members, for the purpose specified.

14. Apparatus of the class described com prising a supporting structure,a lifting member associated with said structure, means for effectingmovement of said member relative to said structure in a directionlengthwise of said member, and means to anchor said structure at severalplaces to a section of track, each of said last-mentioned meanscomprising a pair of clamping members the lower ends of which are formedso as to grip the head of a rail, means adjustably connecting the upperends of said clamping members with said structure, and a slip ringsurrounding said clamping members, for the purpose specified,

15. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structureincluding transversely extending supporting means provided with aplurality of longitudinally disposed bearings, means to anchor saidstructure to a section of track, a frame, a lifting member slidablyassociated with said frame, means for effecting movement of said memberrelative to said frame, and a shaft extending through said frame andadapted to be inserted in any one of said bearings.

16. Apparatus of the class described com prising a supporting structure,means to an ch01 said structure to a section of track, a lifting member,means pivotally and slidably connecting said member with said structureand so adapted that said member may be positioned obliquely transverselyor longitudinally with respect to the track, and means for eiiectingmovement of said member relative to said"structure in a directionlengthwise of said member.

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supportingstructure,means to an-v ohor said structure to a section of track, a frame, meansconnecting'said frame With said structure so adapted that said frame mayroclr transversely or longitudinally with respect to the track, alifting member slidably associated With said frame, and "means foreffecting, movement ofsaid member relative to said frame. v

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure,means to anstantially horizontal axis, aj'second' frame slid'ably"connected to said auxiliary frame and pivoted to swing about asubstantially horizontal axis vvhich is substantially i at right anglesithrespect to said first-men tioned axis, a lifting membenslidablyassociated with said second frame; and means for effecting movement ofsaid member relative to said second frame,

JOHN nonsense

